According to information provided by the National Fire Protection Association, the smoke alarms installed in homes across the country were only effective and only went off in about 53 percent of all the home fires that were reported in the U.S. between the years of 2009 and 2013. On the other hand, approximately 59 percent of all deaths resulting in a home fire took place in homes that had no smoke alarms, or alarms that were not functioning properly. If you don’t have an active fire alarm in your home, then you definitely need one – and if you do have one installed, you need to know when it is time to have it replaced.
How Important are Fire Alarms?
Having a working fire alarm in your home is crucial because it can save your life. That’s it – the bottom line.
The statistics have proven that this equipment makes a huge difference in helping to prevent deaths and injuries. This is especially important through the holiday season, as a large number of fires result from Christmas decorations. In fact, approximately 200 home fires began with a Christmas tree.
You should remember that fire is fast and it’s deadly. It only takes it a few minutes to spread and become life-threatening.
Upgrading and Replacing Your Fire Alarms
According to the National Fire Protection Association, you need to have your smoke alarms installed on each of the levels of your home. It’s important that you make sure there is one in every bedroom. Remember, if you have a house that is exceptionally large, you may need a few extra alarms to cover all the space.
Even though you need to replace any smoke alarms that are more than a decade old, you don’t have to wait an entire decade to have them tested. In fact, it’s important to test your fire alarms at least one time a month. For the majority of fire alarms, all you have to do is just press a button and then listen for the alarm to sound.
Hire the Professionals for Help
Ideally, all of the fire alarms in your home need to be interconnected. This will ensure they all go off if smoke or fire is detected. If it has been a while since your alarms have been tested, then now may be the time to do so. If you are unsure if your alarms are still working properly, or that they are still in working condition, then reach out to the professionals. They can provide assistance with this process.
